Apparatus for producing white lead.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. W. BAILEY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WHITE LEAD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 1900.

IN ENTOR W) ATTOR Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

A. I W

No. 830,196. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. W. BAILEY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WHITE LEAD.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5. 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WLNTOR W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BAILEY, OF JERSEY CITY. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, 'IO UNITED LEAD COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WHITE LEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filecl December 5,1900. Serial No. 38,757.

1'0 all whom it Duty concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson, State of New Jersey,have invented an Improved Apparatus for Producing Lead Carbonate, orWhite Lead, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exactspecification, re 'erence being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part hereof.

The invention relates to an improved apparatus for manufacturing leadcarbonate, or what is known as white lead, or any similar product; andthe object of the invention is to provide means for handling finelydivided or comminuted metallic lead while it is passing through thevarious stages oftreatment needed to convert it into lead carbonate orcommercial white lead, except that af ter being passed through saidapparatus the white lead must of course bewashed and dried.

One object of the invention is to enable the white lead to be producedautomatically and continuously and economically and at the same time tofurnish a product'which is superior in quality to that which is made byold and well-known processes.

To that end my invention consists, first, in the combination in suchapparatus of a corroding-chamber of any suitable shape and size, asupport for the finely divided or comminuted lead in said chambersuch,for example, as a floor or shelf to carry the leadand stirrers adaptedto stir or turn the lead over, so as to expose it thoroughly to theaction of the ,corroding-gas and at the same time to move or throw thelead forward through the said chamber, and means of any suitable kind tosupport and carry or move the stirrers. In the best form of my inventionI employ a series of stirrers so arranged as to cooperate with oneanother in stirring or turning over the comminuted lead very thoroughly,so as to expose every particle of the same to the action of thecorrodinggas. In the best form of my invention also I employ suitablemeans for supplying the corroding-gas to said chamber.

My invention also consists in the employment of a suitablecarrying-chain to which the stirrers are attached for carrying thestirrers and means for supporting and moving the chain.

My invention also consists in employing two or more rows of stirrersarranged longitudinally of the corroding-chamber and so placed withreference to one another as to stir and move every part of thecomminuted lead.

Hy invention also consists in combining with some or all of the featuresalready mentioned a plurality of stirrers having the form of plows, thesaid plows being consecutively arranged with relation to their path ofmovement in the chamber and being adapted to turn the lead over and atthe same time slowly feed it forward, and the plows preferably beingplaced alternately in reversed positions, whereby one plow turns thelead over in one direction and the succeeding plow turns the same massof lead over in the opposite direction, and thus the lead isthoroughlystirred and very completely exposed to the action of the oorroding-gasand is at the same time gradually moved forward through thecorroding-chamber, the advancing movement of the lead being at a rateslower than the movement of the plows.

My invention also consists in the combination with the other necessaryparts of an endless chain adapted to move through the corroding-chamberand provided with a series of cross-rods and a row of )lows pivoted toeach cross-rod and means 'or supporting and moving the endless chain. Inthe best form of this part of the invention the plows of each row areplaced in a reversed position relatively to the plows of the recedingrow.

My invention also consists in the comb nation in such an apparatus of acorrodingchamber, a series of overlapping shelves placed one aboveanother, forming a zigzag channel through the chamber, and means'forstirring the lead and at the same time moving it over the said shelvesand causing it to drop from shelf to shelf until it reaches the point ofdischarge.

My invention also consists in the comb nation in such an apparatus of acorrodmgchamber and a series of overlapping shelves placed one aboveanother, forming a zigzag channel through the corroding-chamber, and aseries of stirrers adapted to stir the lead and at the same time move itforward on said shelves and cause'it to drop from shelf to shelf, andmeans for su porting and moving the stirrers over the s elves. In thebest I of the corrodin -chamber.

form of my invention I arrange the stirrers or plows in the manneralready described and attach them'to an endless chain ada tedto carrythe stirrers or plows through t e corroding-chamber and over the shelvesin a zigzag course, whereby the lead is thoroughly st1rred and exposedto the corrodingegas and is at the same time moved or fed over theshelves successively until it reaches the point of discharge.

My invention also consists in devices for automatically feeding thefinely-divided or comminuted lead into the corroding-chambar and formoistening or sprinkling the same automatically and for supplying-thecorroding-gas to the said chamber.

My invention also consists of certain other features of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

My improved apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichFlgure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 isa vertical cross' section of the same, taken on the line a: a: ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the device for feeding the lead intothe chamber, and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the construction of theendless chain for carrying the plows and also of thefsprinklmg ormoistenmg ap ar'atus. I a

S' ar numbers indicate similar parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 are the walls This corrodingchamber is mae of any suitable dimensions and in any suitable manner. This chamber isprovided with ,a series of shelves or floors which overlap one anotherin the manner shown in Fig. 1. These shelves'o erate to support the leadafter it has been fe into the chamberand while it is being exposed tothe action of the corrodmg -gas. 1n the form shown in Fig. 1 theuppermost shelf extends to Land is partly supported by the front wall ofthe chamber. In the other direction it extends to a point some littledistance away from the rear wall of the chamber, thereby leaving a spacein which are placed the sprocket-wheels 3 3, which support and move theendless chain. This shelf is provided with an opening or slot 4 near itsrear end, through which the lead drops from the top shelf to the shelfbelow. This. shelf is also rovided with a trap-door 5 or other suitabledevice or opening to ermit the passage of theendless chain in t e mannerillustrated. The -other shelves or floors are similarly constructed,exce t that the second shelf from the top exten to the rear wall of thechamber instead of to thefront wall, thereby leaving a space for thepassage of the chain at the front end of the chamber instead of at therear; The shelves, which are connected with the rear or discharge endwall of the chamher, are not provided with trap-doors at that end, -asthe chain does not have to pass through them at that point. i

6 6 are stirrers which in the form of my invention which is shown in thedrawings are made in the shape of plows, the construction of which ismore fully set out in Figs. 3 and 4. The stirrers or ried by 'an end esschain 7. This chain can be constructed in any suitable manner and can besupported and operated by any suitable means. In the form shown in thedrawings the endless chain consists of cross-rods 8 8, to which theplows are pivoted. These "cross-rods are connected to ether at theirends by links 9 9 of any suitab e construction. (See Fig. 4.) i I Thecross-rods 8 are provided at their ends with the friction-wheels 10- 10,which run upon tracks or ways 11 11, fastened in any suitable way to theside walls of the corroding-chamber; In this way the chain is' keptatthe proper distance above the shelves 2 2 as it-is moved throu h thecorroding-chamher, as, a result of Wii made to penetrate entirelythrdilgh the mass plows are attached to and carch the plows 6 6 are oflead resting upon the shelves and to thoroughly stir the lead. ,Eachcross-rod is provi ed with a row of lowsas shown, for exam le, in Fi taced to eac rod. The cross-rod'sare ut at any suitable distance from oneanot er, and the plows attached to one rod are preferably arrangedimmediately behind the plows attached to the preceding rod, whereby theplows are consecutively arranged with relation to their path of movementin-the corroding-chamber. The

are as i lustrated in Fig. 2that is to say, the

2, w ere nine plows are atlows or blades of the plows of eachlongitudmal row thus formed laced alternately in reversed positions,

blade'of one low is made toproject to the .left and the b ade of thesucceedingplow in the same longitudinal row is made to project to theright, as a result of which the plows in assing through the lead carriedby the she ves turn it over, first in one direction and then in theopposite direction. By. reason of the fact. that the plows arepivoted'to the cross-rods the plows always hang suspended from the chainno matter which side of the chain be uppermost. of the chain is clearlyindicated in The chain and its plows first ass over the top shelf andthen around t e uppermost sprocket-wheels in the drawings, then aroundthe sprocket-wheels 'oppos1te the second shelf on the right-hand side-ofFig. 1, and so on'back and forth I one of the shelves until it reachesthe lowest part of the corroding-chamber, when ,the chain passes overthe sprocket heel 12 and then up through the trap-doors 5, over'thesprocket-wheel 13, and then continuously aroundthe same circuit. 14 is ahopper,

The direction of travel Fig. '1. J

over each i the top and at the bottom.

which is supplied from time to time with finely divided or oomminutedlead. From the hopper 14 the lead falls into the pockets 15- of afeed-drum 16. This drum is supported within and revolves within theshell 17. The shell 17 is provided with an aperture at The lead from thehopper 14 passes throughthe upper aperture of the shell into the pocketsof the drum and falls through the lower aperture of the shell onto theuppermost shelf 2 in the corroding-chamber.

The drum 16 is provided at its ends with the projecting arms 18. Eachcross-rod of the endless chain is provided with projecting arms 19,adapted to strike against the arms 18 of the drum, so as to cause thedrum to make a quarter-revolution as each rod of the The result of chainpasses underneath it. this is that a pocketful of lead is dropped uponthe top shelf as each cross-rod passes underneath the drum andimmediately in front of the row of plows carried by the next cross-rod.20 is a moistening device for supplying a limited amount of a suitablesolu- "tion of acetic acid and water to the lead immediately after it isfed into the chamber. This moistening device consists of a tube 21,provided with suitable openings or perforations 22. The tube 21 issupplied with moistening liquid through a supply-pipe 23, which isprovided with any suitable form of valve, as shown. 24 is an armconnected with this valve, by means of which the valve may be opened orclosed, so as to admit a charge of moistening liquid to the tube. Thearms 19 of the cross-rods are adapted to strike against the arm 24 whenthe cross-rods pass underneath the moistening device and to thereby openthe valve in-the supply-pipe 23, and thus cause a regulated quantity ofthe moistening li the lead. When t e arm 19 has moved forward so as todisengage the arm 24, that arm is drawn back into its normal position bythe spring 26, so as to close the valve in the supply-pipe 23 and outoff the supply of moistening liquid.

By adjusting the arm 24 and the connected valve the amount of moisteningliquid that is sprinkled upon the lead each time the valve is opened canbe regulated or adjusted. It is also apparent that if it be deemeddesirable to moisten the lead in the corrodingchamber at severaldifferent points more than one moistening device can be employedthat isto say, one just described can be inserted at any place in thecorroding-chamber, and any number of these moistening devices can beused.

27 is a pipe placed at the disehar e end of the eorroding-chamber andsuitab y perforated, through which the carbonic acid gas,

uid to be sprinkled upon a moistening device similar to together withair, steam, and acetic-acid vapor, is supplied to the corroding-chamber.

28 is a vessel into which the corroded lead falls through the openings 4in the lowest shelf. This vessel is removed from time to time and thecarbonate of lead is washed and dried by any well-known means.

l 29 29 are flues or pipes for the escape of the corroding-gas.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: Thefinely-comminuted lead, which may be made by any of the usual methods,is fed into the hopper 14, from which it is fed automatically inregulated quantities on to the uppermost shelf'of the corroding-chamberby means of the drum 16. The lead is turned over and gradually workedforward by the stirrers or plows 6 6, and as each row of plows passesunderneath the moistening device 20 a regulated quantity of moisteningliquid is sprinkled upon the lead immediately beneath. This spray isgenerally made of a mixture of acetic acid and water, preferably ofabout eight per cent. acid to ninety-two per cent. water. The lead isthen in condition to be acted upon by the corroding-gas. The plowscontinue to stir or turn over the lead, and thus expose it thoroughly tothe action of the corroding-gas and at the same time feed it forwarduntil the lead reaches the discharge end of the uppermost shelf, when itdrops through the opening 4 on to the shelf below.

carried forward on the second shelf until it reaches the end of the sameand drops through the opening 4 on to the third shelf, and so on untilthe lead finally drops into the receptacle 28, at which time it has beenvery thoroughly subjected to the corroding-gas and very completelycorroded. 'hen the apparatus is started, a supply of carbonicacid gas,air, moisture, and acetic-acid vapor, warmed to a temperature of about120 Fahrenheit, is forced in through the perforated pipe 27, which inthe best form of my invention is located below the lowest shelf. Byreason of the construction of those shelves the gases are forced totravel between the shelves in close proximity to the stock undertreatment as it is being stirred and thrown first one way and thenanother by the plows. The gases are thus forced to pass over each shelfand very near to the same until they reach the top of the chamber, whenthey escape through the waste flues or pipes 29.

Many advantages result from the use of my improved apparatus. Thecorrosion of the lead is much more rapid than in the methods heretoforeemployed, one reason being that the corroding-gases are brought intocloser contact with the stock under treatment.

The white lead made in this apparatus is It is then acted upon in likemanner by the plows and "substantially free from dust or otherimpurities. There is no tendency on the part ofthe corroded lead to forminto lumps, as in former processes. In this apparatus the lead is verythoroughly stirred, and thus exposed to the action ofthe corroding-gas,and

' yet the disturbances are periodioalthat is to say, the lead is not inconstant motion and this fact also leads to a more thorough corrosion ofthe lead. In this apparatus also the granulation of the lead in theprocess of manufacture is substantially prevented. The whole operationis automatic, including the loading or charging of the lead, thestirring, and the unloading. This makes the process much less dangerousto life and ealth.

In processes heretofore employed the operatives were exposed more orless to t e poisonous gases and dust, which made these I formerprocesses dangerous to health and .terially slower than the movement ofthe stirrers, and means for supplying 'a corroding-gas to said chamber,substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for making -white lead or similar products, thecombination of a cor- -roding-chamber, a support for comminuted lead insaid chamber, means for supplying comminuted lead to said support, aseries of stirrers adapted to stir the lead and to advance it withrelation to the said support at a rate materially slower than themovement of the stirrers, a chain to which the stirrers are attached,means for supporting and moving the chain, and means for supplying acorroding-gas to said chamber, substantially asset forth.

3. In an ap aratus for making white lead or similar pro ucts, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for comminuted lead in thesaid chamber, means for su plying comminuted lead to said support, a purality of stirrers consecutively arranged with relation to'their pathof movement in the corroding-chamber and ada ted to stir the lead and toadvance it with re ation to said support at a rate materially slowerthan the movement of the stirrers, means for supporting and moving saidstirrers, and means for supplying ,corroding-gas to said chamber,substantially as set forth.

4, Inap aratus for making white lead or similar pro ucts, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for'the lead in saidchamber at a rate slower than the'movement of the stirrers, an endlesschain to which the stirrers are attached, means for supporting and movinthe chain, and means for supplying a corro ing-gas to said chamber,substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corrodin -chamber, a support for the lead in said chamer, a plurality of plows consecutively arranged with relation to theirpath of movement in the corroding-chamber and adapted to turn the leadover and feed it-forward, the plows being placed alternately in reversedpositions, means for supporting and movin the plows and means forsupplyin a corrodinggas to said chamber, substantia 1y as set forth.

6. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead in the saidchamber, a plurality of rows of plows consecutively arranged withrelation to their path of movement in the corroding-chamber and adaptedto turn the lead over and feed it forward, the rows of plows beingplaced alternately in reversed positions. means for supporting and movinthe plows, and means for supplying a corro ing-gas to said chamber,substantially as set forth.

'7. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead in saidchamber, means for supplying comminuted lead to said support, an endlesschain adapt ed ed to move through said chamber, rovi with a series ofcross-rods, a row of p ows pivoted to each cross-rod, sai'd lows beingconstructed to advance the lead at a rate materially slower than themovement of the chain, means for supporting and moving the chain, andmeans for supp ying a corroding-gas to said chamber, substantially asset forth.

8. In apparatus for making white lead or similar roducts, thecombination of a corroding-c amber, a sup ort for thelead in saidchamber, an endless cli ain, ada ted to move through said chamber,provide with a series of cross-rods, a row of plows pivoted to eachcross-rod, the plows of each row being placed in' a reversed positionrelatively to the plows of the preceding row, means for supporting andmovin the chain, and means for supplying a corro ing-gas to saidchamber, substantially as set forth.

9. In apparatus for making whlte lead or similar products, thecombination of acorroding-chamber, a series of overlapping shelvesplaced one above another, means for supplying comminuted lead to theuppermost shelf, means for stirring the lead and'adsee, 196

' 'vancing it over said shelves at a rate materially slower than themovement of the stirring means and causing it to drop from shelf toshelf, and means for supplying corrodinggas to said chamber,substantlally as set forth.

10. In ap aratus for making white lead or similar PIOL ucts, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a series of overlap ing shelvesplaced one above another, a ciain adapted to move over said shelvessuccessively, a series of stirrers attached to said chain and adapted tostir the lead and move it forward on said shelves at a rate slower thanthe movements of the stirrers, and cause it to drop from shelf to shelfand means for supporting and moving the chain, and means for supplyingcorroding-gas to said chamber, substantially as set forth.

11. In ap a-ratus for making White lead-or similar ro ucts, thecombination of a corroding-c amber, a series of overlap ing shelvesplaced one above another, a c ain ada tedto move over said shelvessuccessive y, a plurality of plows consecutively arranged with relationto their path of movement in the corroding-cha-mber and adapted to turnthe lead over and feed it forward on the said shelves and cause it todrop from shelf to shelf the lows being attached to said chain andplaced alternately in reversed positions, means for'supporting and movinthe chain, and means for supplying a corro inggas to said chamber,substantially as set forth.

12. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a series of overlapping shelvesplaced one above another, a chain adapted to move over said shelvessuccessively, one of more rows of plows consecutively arranged withrelation to their path of movement in the corroding-chamber and adaptedto turn the lead over and feed it forward on the said shelves and causeit to drop from shelf toshelf, the rows of plows being attached to saidchain, and placed alternately in reversed positions, means forsupporting and moving the chain, and means for supplying a corroding-gasto said chamber, substantially as set forth.

13. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a series of overlapping floors orshelves placed one above another, an endless chain adapted to move oversaid floors or shelves successively, the chain being provided with aseries of cross-rods, a row of plows pivoted to each cross-rod, meansfor supporting and moving the chain and means for supplying acorroding-gas to said chamber, substantially as set forth.

14. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a series of overlapping eachcross-rod, the plows of each row beingplaced in a reversed positionrelatively to the plows of the preceding row, means for support-ing andmoving the chain and means for supplying a corroding-gas to saidchamber,

substantially as set forth.

15. In apparatus for making White lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead in saidchamber, a series of stirrers adapted to stir the lead and to advance itthrough the said chamber at a rate slower than the movement of thestirrers, a chain to which the stirrers are attached, means forsupporting and moving the chain, means for feeding cornminuted lead intosaid chamber automatically, and means for supplying the corrodinggas tosaid chamber, substantially as set forth.

16. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead in saidchamber, a series of stirrers adapted to stir the lead and to slowlyadvance it through the said chamber, a chain to which the stirrers areattached, means for supporting and moving the chain, means forfeedingcornminuted lead into said chamber automatically, automatic meansfor supplying a hmited amount of moisture to the lead in said chamber,and means for supplying the corroding gas to said chamber, substantiallyas set forth.

17. In apparatus for making white lead and similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead in saidchamber, a plurality of stirrers consecutively arranged with relation totheir path of movement. in the corroding-chamber and adapted to stir thelead and move it through the said chamber at a rate slower than themovement of the stirrers, an endless chain to which the stirrers areattached, means for supporting and moving the chain, means forautomatically feeding the lead into said chamber, said means beingoperated by an endless chain, and means for supplying a cor-' roding-gasto said chamber, substantially as set forth.

18. In apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a support for the lead 1n saidchamber, a plurality of stirrers consecutively arranged with relation totheir path of movement in the corroding-chamber, and adapted to stir thelead and move it through the said chamber, an endless chain to which thestirrers are attached, means for supporting and moving the chain,automatic means for supplying a limited amount of moisture to the leadin said chamber, said means being operated by the endless chain, andmeans for supplying a corroding-gas to said chamber, substantially asset forth.

19. In an apparatus for making white lead or similar products, thecombination of a corroding-chamber, a series of supports for thecomminuted lead placed one above another in said chamber, an endlesscarrier adapted to move over said shelves successively, a series ofstirrers attached to said carrier and adapted to stir the lead and moveit in opposite directions on said shelves, said stirrers having inclinedsurfaces facing in opposite directions whereby each stirrer is-adaptedto stir the lead while moving in opposite directions, means forsupporting and moving said carrier, and means for supplying corrodinggasto said chamber, substantially as set orth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN w. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. BENNET, GEO. W. MILLS, Jr,

